Flushing device for toilets



Ma 20, 1952 K. BEYRODT 2,597,560

FLUSHING DEVICE FOR TOILETS Filed May 19, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORivrf ,Zeyraef ATTORNEYS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 19, 1948 FIG. 2

n MS m Mm m m w mn I'M W K m B May 20, 1952 K. BEYRODT FLUSHING DEVICEFOR TOILETS 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 19, 1948 FIG.3

FIG. 5

FIG. 4

HI I -H R s W 5 M 2 m M May 20, 1952 K. BEYRODT FLUSHING DEVICE FORTOILETS FIG. 8 M ',42

4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 19, 1948 I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I II I l I I I I l I 591 I L 1 I J ll.lulnlllllll. 0 v 5 M n n ll J 5: m. Ha 8 7 6 0 I 4 I Iii-82 IIIi'i ATTORNEYS Patented May 20, 1952 UNITED 2Claims.

This invention relates to power operated toilet seats and especially toautomatic sterilized toilet seats of the type wherein the seat when notin use is disposed in recessed position within a cabinet, where it issubjected to ultraviolet germicidal radiation by a suitable germicidallamp. More particularly, the present invention relates to automaticflushing of the toilet when the seat returns to the cabinet after use.

in an application Serial No. 14,003 filed March 10, 194 8, now maturedinto Patent Number 2,563,095 dated August 7, 1951, I have describedapparatus for moving a seat automatically to and from its position inthe cabinet. The present application presents a further improvementwhereby the flush valve is actuated automatically by mechanism providedfor that purpose. The flush valve is also manually operable withoutinterference with the mechanism.

Since the device is operated and controlled solely through electricalcircuits and spring tension, it is free from defects and disadvantagesof hydraulically actuated devices which have been suggested heretofore.It is much less cumbersome and is free from leakage and other defectswhich are inherent in hydraulic apparatus My improved solenoid-operatedtoilet seat can be installed by anyone because it is only necessary tomount the cabinet and the seat on the ordinary support provided on alltoilet bowls, and the solenoid control circuit can be connected to astandard electric service outlet. The seat mechanism can be operated bymerely touching a push-button to initiate the lowering of the seat andthereafter the mechanism operates automatically, the seat beingultimately returned to its raised position in the cabinet where it issubjected to the ultraviolet radiation of the germicidal lamp mounted inthe cabinet.

I prefer to employ a retarding device such as a dashpot mechanism forcontrolling the rate of movement of the toilet seat from one position toanother so that there are no noisy or sharp impacts as the seat is movedfrom one position to another.

My improved toilet seat embodies safety features such that a personcannot possibly be hurt by the movement of the seat or the mechanism,regardless of any careless or accidental manipulation of the mechanismor of the movable toilet seat. The movement is produced by springpressure only, and the seat can be forced up or down manually withoutany danger of injuring the mechanism in any way. It is not necessary toprovide any hydraulic connections for operating the mechanism as is thecase with hydraulically operated toilet seats, and these expensivecomplications are thus avoided, and longlife is assured because thecorroding efiect of leaky water lines frequently encountered withhydraulic devices is avoided.

In general, my improved toilet seat mechanism comprises apush-button-controlled solenoid for moving the toilet seat in onedirection and simultaneously pressing the spring which provides thenecessary power for returning the toilet seat to its initial position.Thus, in the preierred embodiment of my invention I employ a solenoidconnected to a pivoted seat support through a resilient springconnection or the like, whereby operation of a push-button to energizethe sole noid lowers the seat automatically to a'convenient intermediateposition about two inches above the toilet bowl. The seat isautomatically latched in this position, and the push-button circuitautomatically disconnected while the seat is in this latched position.The solenoid is also deenergized when the seat is in the loweredposition. When the seat is pressed down to a position 7 substantiallyhorizontal, the latch mechanism is released so as to permit freemovement of the seat to its extreme raised position when the seat isreleased. The seat is held in its latched in;- termediate position by aspring bar oarried by the pivoted u o r t e t ilet seat s h t if theseat is forced upwardly from this position, the spring a is de cted t elase. the eat without any possible injury to the mechanism It i h Objectof the inven ion o Provide a compact, sightly and relatively ine rpensis ape paratus adapted to accomplish the purpose, and particularly he uomati flushin 9f the tqils after use.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it isbetter understood by reference to the following specification and theaccompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is an elevation illustrating atoilet bowl with the mechanism secured thereto;

Fi 2 is n elevation of. th at-o rat n mechanism, sterilizing cabinetandthe toilet seat in raised position, parts being broken away to showdetails of construction;

3 is a e o n h l he 3-3 a 13 8- .2; h 4 is a ca sti n h th line 5- of.Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section on the line 5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view illustrating the meeh: anism for actuatingthe flush valve;

Fig. 7 is a section on the line of Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the electrical circuits.

Referring to the drawing, 5 indicates a toilet bowl of ordinaryconstruction having the usual bolt holes at the rear thereof to receiveclamping bolts 6. The heads of the bolts 6 are carried in bayonet slotsformed in bearing brackets l, on the bottom 8 of the toilet seat cabinet9. Thus the cabinet 9 can be secured readily to the toilet seat 5,precisely as toilet seats are normally secured to the toilet bowl.

A shaft I is mounted in bearings II carried by the brackets I to form apivoted support for the toilet seat. The brackets I may be welded orotherwise permanently afllxed to the bottom 8 of the cabinet 9. Theshaft I 6 carries a bell crank I2 which is connected to a push rod I3which extends through the cabinet 9. The push rod I3 is telescopedwithin a tube I4 which extends upwardly and is connected to the armatureI of a solenoid 16 mounted within the upper end of the cabinet 9. Thepush rod carries a pair of metal discs I1 and I8. A coil spring I9engages the discs I1 and I8. The latter are loosely mounted on the pushrod I3, and pins 20 and 2 I, mounted in the push rod I3, limit themovement of these discs toward the extremities of the push rod. The tubeI4 enclosing the larger portion of the push rod I3 is provided withinwardly bent projections 22 and 23, engaging the discs I1 and I8. Theshaft I0 carries a second bell crank 24 connected to a piston rod 25 ofa dashpot 26 pivoted to the cabinet 9 at 21. The dashpot retards themovement of the seat 28, which is secured to the shaft I I] as the seatmoves in either direction. A seat-raising spring 29 is connected at oneend to a bracket 30 secured to the cabinet 9 and, at its other end, to'abell crank 3| on the shaft III. The spring 29 is tensioned as the seat28 moves downwardly for co-operation with the bowl 5.

The arrangement of the parts described is such that when the solenoid I6is energized, the armature I5 thereof is drawn upwardly immediately toraise the tube I4 containing the spring I9. The push rod I3 is not movedas rapidly as the tube I4, because its movement is restrained by thedashpot 26. The relative displacement of the tube I4 and the push rodI3, which thus occurs when the solenoid is energized, serves to compressthe spring IS, and this spring then raises the push rod I3 slowly underthe control of the dashpot 26 to lower the toilet seat 28 and to applytension to the spring 29. This slow movement of the toilet seat, causedby the action of the coil spring I9, continues until the seat reachesthe intermediate lowered position in which it is latched by mechanismprovided for that purpose.

The details of the latch mechanism form no part of the present inventionbut comprise a pair of complementary latch plates 32 and 33, eachpivoted on a bracket 34 secured to the cabinet 9. A spring 35 tends tomove the plate 32 forward and downward. A spring bar 36 is carried bythe shaft I0. When the solenoid I5 is energized, to lower the seat 28,the spring bar 36 is raised as the seat is lowered and the rounded endthereof engages the lower surface of the latch plate 33. The movement ofthe spring bar 36 continues, and it engages a notch in the lower edge ofthe latch plate 32. In this manner, the seat 28 is held in theintermediate position, slightly raised above the bowl 5. With the partsin the position indicated, the seat cannot return to its verticalposition automatically, even though the solenoid is then de-energized,because the seat is latched in its position by the spring bar 36.

When the seat is pressed down from this intermediate position, however,the spring bar 36 releases the latch plate and the seat is free to beraised to its original position by the action of the spring 29 when theseat is released. It is sufiicient for the purpose of the presentinvention to understand that when the seat 28 is moved by the action ofthe solenoid I6 to the intermediate position, it remains there until itis further depressed and then released, whereupon the seat returns toits position in the cabinet.

The bar 36 is made in the form of a flexible spring member so as to makeit possible to force the seat 28 upward from the intermediate positionwithout injury to the mechanism, it being understood that when the seatis thus forced upward from its position the spring bar 36 snaps out ofengagement with the retaining notch and returns to its initial positionas shown in Fig. 2.

The cabinet 9 contains a sterilizing lamp 31 which is mounted inbrackets 38. The electric circuit for supplying current to thesterilizing lamp and to the solenoid I6 is illustrated in Fig. 8. Anordinary plug connector 39 is employed for connecting the electriccircuit to an ordinary service outlet. A push-button 46 is mounted atsome convenient location on the cabinet 9 and, by pressing thispush-button, the coil 4| of the solenoid I6 is energized. The circuit isas follows: push-button 46, wires 42 and 43, solenoid coil 4|, and wires44 and 45 leading to the supply plug 39. The other side of the supplyline is connected to the push-button 46 through wires 46, terminal block41, wire 48. switch contacts 49, wire 50, switch contacts 5| and wire52.

When the seat 28 is in its vertical position as illustrated in Fig. 2,for example, the contacts 5| are held closed by a bar 53 secured to theshaft I D. The contacts 49 are normally closed contacts and accordinglywhen the seat is in vertical or raised position the closing of thecircuit at the push-button 46 serves to energize the solenoid coil 4|and to initiate the movement of the seat downward from its raisedposition. As soon as the solenoid coil 4| is energized and raises thearmature I5, a projection 54 at the top thereof closes switch contactsconnected in series with a resistance element 56 to form a holdingcircuit in parallel with the push-button 49 and in series with thecontacts 49, which open when the seat reaches the intermediate positionbecause the contact bar 53 does not engage the contacts. The circuitwill then remain closed through contacts 55 when the push-button isreleased, and the solenoid coil 4| will remain energized until the seatis lowered to the intermediate position, at which time theswitch-actuating bar 53, carried by the pivoted seat support, engagesthe switch-actuating member 51 to open the switch contacts 49, thusdeenergizing the solenoid coil 4| and openin the contacts 55. When theseat is released from its horizontal position and returns toward itsvertical position, the contacts 49 close to prepare the holding circuit,and the contacts 5| are closed by the action of the bar 53 when the seatapproaches its vertical postiion.

The switch block 58 for holding the circuit contacts 55 and the seriesresistor 56 which reduces the supply of current to the solenoid coil 4|after the push-button circuit is opened, may also include a thermaloverload cutout to prevent any damage from over-heating in the controlcircuit.

Thus the support for one of the contacts 55 may be in the form of abimetallic strip heated by the resistance element 56 so that if thesolenoid coil 5| accidentally remains energized for any considerableperiod of time, this contact support will be deflected to open thecontacts 55.

The sterilizing lamp 37 is connected to the supply of current throughwires 45 and 59, a lamp ballast 60, wire 6|, terminal block 41, wire 82to lamp terminals 63 and 64 and then wire 65, lamp starter 66, wire 67,lamp terminals 69 and 68, wire 70, switch contacts 7|, wire 72, terminalblock 47 and wire 46. The contacts H open when the seat starts to movedownward, at which time the switch-actuating arm 53 swings upward. Thecontacts 7| separate, breaking the lamp circuit so that the lamp isenergized only when the seat is in the raised position in the cabinet.

Behind the cabinet 8, a housing 75 is supported adjacent the flushvalve, which may be of ordinary construction and forms no part of thepresent invention. Any flush valve of the type ordinarily used in thewater line to flush the bowl 5 may be utilized.

The stem 76 of the flush valve extends into the casing and is connectedto a rod 77. Surrounding the rod is a coil spring 78 which issufilciently still to impart movement to the rod 77 when operatedmanually through the projecting portion 79 of the spring to which a knob80 may be secured. Thus the flush valve may be operated manually bydepressing a portion 79 which projects through an opening in the casing75. Within the casing 75, a solenoid BI is supported. The armature 82 ofthe solenoid is connected by a spring 83 to a washer 84. The washer 84has an internal diameter equal to the outside diameter of the spring I8.In applying the washer, it is slipped over the spring, the convolutionsof which are separated at a point near the end of the rod 17. The washerpasses between the convolutions of the spring 78, engages the rod 77,and a keeper 85 is slipped into place to hold the washer firmly againstthe rod 77 so that it cannot slip from the rod and ride onto the spring78. When the solenoid 8! is energized, the armature 82 is drawndownwardly and, through the spring 83 and the washer 84, the rod 77 isactuated and in turn operates the flush valve.

In order to energize the solenoid 81, a spring bar 86 is secured to theshaft l8. When the seat moves downwardly, the spring bar 86 is broughtto the position indicated in full lines in Fig. 4, against an adjustablestop 87. When the seat moves upwardly, the spring bar 86 moves to theposition indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 4, and, in doing so, it tripsa cam member 88 pivoted at 89 and moves the contacts 90 into en agement.This closes the circuit to the solenoid 8| to effect actuation of thevalve.

While momentary closure of the circuit is ordinarily suflicient, I mayprovide for a holding of the circuit in closed position by means of alatch 9| which catches and holds the member 92, thus keeping thecontacts 90 closed. A heating element 83 is included in parallel to thecircuit, and the latch 91 is made of bimetal so that the heating efiectwill, after an interval, cause the latch 9| to move away from the member82, thus releasing the contacts 90 and opening the circuit to thesolenoid 8|.

Referring to Fig. 8, the solenoid 8| is connected through wire 94 toblock 95 and thence by a wire 96 to contacts 90. From contacts 90, awire 97 is connected to block 4! and thence to the source 6 of current.The other side of the circuit consists of Wire 98 to the block 95,thence through wire 99, wire I02, block 47, wire 45 to the source ofsupply. The heater 93 is connected on the far side of contacts throughwires 10! and 103.

It will be understood from the foregoing that the flush valve is notaffected by the downward movement of the seat 28 because the bar 88passes the cam member 88 without closing the contacts 90. Upon thereverse movement of the seat, the bar 86 actuates the cam member 88 tomove the contacts 30 into engagement. Thus, whenever the seat rises andreturns to the cabinet 9, the flush valve is actuated positively andautomatically.

Various changes may be made in the details of construction as describedwithout departing from the invention or sacrificing the advantagesthereof.

I claim:

1. In an automatic flush device for toilet bowls, a seat adapted toco-operate with the bowl, a shaft supporting the seat, a spring formoving the seat upwardly from substantially horizontal position, acontact device, a bar carried by the shaft for actuating the contactdevice upon such movement to close an electric circuit, a solenoidenergized by the current in the circuit, a flush valve, and a connectionbetween the flush valve and the solenoid whereby the valve is actuated,including a rod connected to the flush valve, a coiled springsurrounding and extending beyond the rod and forming a manually operablehandle, a washer disposed between the coils of the spring and engagingthe rod and a spring connected to the washer and to the solenoid.

2. In an automatically operable toilet seat of the type in which theseat is moved to and from co-operating position with a toilet bowl bypower means and exposed to ultraviolet germicidal radiation in itsraised position, the improvement consisting of a flush valve and meanscontrolled by the upward, movement of the seat to actuate the flushvalve, including contact means adapted to close an electric circuit, abar, moving with the seat to actuate the contact means when the seat israised, a solenoid energized by electric current when the contact meansis actuated, and a connection between the solenoid and the flush valve,including a rod connected to the flush valve, a coiled springsurrounding and extending beyond the rod and forming a manually operablehandle, a washer disposed between the coils of the spring, a keeperengaging the washer and holding it in position, and a spring connectedto the washer and to the solenoid.

KURT BEYRODT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,337,730 Sloan Apr. 20, 19201,435,067 Hurst Nov. 7, 1922 1,875,983 Bourdet Sept. 6, 1932 1,975,214Schwibinger Oct. 2, 1934 2,157,664 Hansen May 9, 1939 2,283,678 LandisMay 19, 1942 2,300,904 Beyrodt Nov. 3, 1942 2,300,936 Krenzer Nov. 3,1942 2,320,065 Briscoe et a1 May 25, 1943 2,440,231 Davidson Apr. 20,1948

